The go-to resource for school board members’ greatest challenges!
For districts striving to improve student academic performance, professional learning at all levels can make a crucial difference. This invaluable guide addresses the top challenges experienced by nearly every school board, and shows how professional learning can assist in overcoming these challenges and support positive changes.
Two influential education leaders—and experienced board trustees—present an approach that helps school board members form their own professional learning community and become a stronger, more productive team. Aligned with Learning Forward’s current Standards for Professional Learning (developed in collaboration with, and supported by, more than 18 national organizations, including the National School Boards Association), this resource enables board members to
- Learn from case studies focused on 12 critical board-level decisions, including hiring a new superintendent, resource allocation, compensation planning, and more
- Deepen your understanding of leadership and actions that advance school success and benefit the wider community
- Know when, where, and how to use professional learning to improve individual and systemic performance
- Benefit from best practices and tools developed to support effective decisions and successful implementation of major initiatives
Turn to this resource to assist with your continuous improvement journey and achieve greater success for all schools!
‘School boards play a pivotal role in creating a climate of learning in a school system. This book offers practical advice to enable school boards to fulfill this critical aspect of their public leadership role. It is a road map for action and continuous improvement for every school board.’
—Thomas J. Gentzel, Executive Director
National School Boards Association
‘This book is an excellent tool for the collaborative work of school boards and school personnel. The activities encourage the collaboration and conversation that support continuous improvement in education.’
—Lisa Casto, Director of Curriculum and Staff Development
Allen ISD, TX
Table of Content
Foreword by Anne Bryant
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Introduction: Using This Book as a Guide to Your Learning
1. Hiring the Superintendent: Making the Right Choice
2. Planning Strategically: Setting and Supporting Priorities
3. Advancing Professional Learning: Adopting Standards for Professional Learning
4. Allocating Resources: Prioritizing Dollars and Time for Learning
5. Improving School Performance: Reviewing School Improvement Plans
6. Approving Programs: Supporting Professional Learning for Success
7. Setting School Calendars: Providing Time for Educator Learning
8. Building Schools: Putting Learning at the Center
9. Evaluating Performance: Aligning Expectations
10. Compensating Educators: Supporting Learning and Action
11. Engaging Parents: Making Parent Learning a Priority
12. Improving Continuously: Walking the Talk of Professional Learning
Appendix A: Standards for Professional Learning
Appendix B: Standards for Professional Learning: School Board Innovation Configuration Maps
Appendix C: Standards for Professional Learning: Superintendent Innovation Configuration Map (Leadership Standard)
Additional Resources
Index
About the author
Anne Foster is the Executive Director of Parents for Public Schools (PPS), a national organization of community-based chapters working to strengthen public schools by engaging, educating and mobilizing parents. Foster had a longtime career in real estate in the Dallas area and served as a three-term elected school board member for Richardson (Texas) ISD. She served as board president for seven years and founded Realtors Supporting Richardson Schools (RSRS) as a way to bring Realtors into support of public schools. She graduated from Leadership Texas and became the first ED of the business/public school advocacy group Raise Your Hand Texas. In her current position with PPS, Foster speaks, presents and writes on behalf of parent and community engagement in public schools, as well as school board advocacy. Her commentaries have appeared in Phi Delta Kappan, Educational Horizons, The Dallas Morning News, USA Today, and others. She is a regular commentator on public education issues on KERA Dallas public radio, and she consults with community and municipal groups on parent engagement in schools. Foster received the Outstanding Communicator Award by the National School Public Relations Association. She has been recognized as a Master Trustee and member of an Honor Board from the Texas Association of School Boards. She serves on The National Family, School, and Community Engagement Working Group, which advises the White House and Department of Education on federal policy.
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